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UPDATE: Niagara Tunnel Project nearing completion

Ontario energy minister Chris Bentley will be in Niagara Falls Thursday morning for a ceremony commemorating the completion of the Niagara Tunnel Project. Bentley and other dignitaries will tour the tunnel for the final time as water is expected to start flowing by the end of 2013. (Mike DiBattista/Niagara Falls Review)

Ontario energy minister Chris Bentley was in town Thursday morning to mark the last pouring of concrete for the $1.6-billion project, which next year will start carrying more water from the upper Niagara River to the Sir Adam Beck generating station. That will provide enough hydroelectricity to power 160,000 homes each year.

Bentley also received a commemorative time capsule from Grade 2 students from Port Weller School. The capsule will be opened in 50 years.

“This is a huge accomplishment for Ontario Power Generation, the workers and construction crews,” said Bentley. “(The project will provide) a lot of additional, clean power and continue the great tradition of Niagara Falls and the Beck generating stations.”

Over the coming months, workers will complete the tunnel grouting and begin removing lighting and service-water pipes.

Larger structures of steel at either end of the tunnel will also be removed so water can flow from the Niagara River through the tunnel leading to the Sir Adam Beck Generating Station.

About 300 people are employed on the project and at peak, the work force numbered 580.

The project was originally supposed to be completed at the end of 2009, but that date, along with the initial $1 billion cost figure went out the window when Big Becky, the world’s largest hard rock tunnel boring machine, ran into tougher-than expected conditions along the 10 kilometre route.

Boring the tunnel wrapped up in May 2011, but work continued to line the 14.4-metre diameter walls with concrete.

Water is expected to start flowing by mid 2013.

Ontario Power Generation, owned by the province, contracted Strabag AG to build the tunnel.

Earlier this year, OPG president Tom Mitchell said they will approach the Ontario Energy Board requesting an increase in hydro rates by about 50 cents per month, per household to pay for the project, which would raise the cost of electricity by about $6 per year.

The project is about $600 million more than originally anticipated.

ray.spiteri@sunmedia.ca

Twitter: @RaySpiteri

NIAGARA TUNNEL PROJECT TIMELINE

2003:Premier Dalton McGuinty promises more electricity from Niagara River